Ejector breech and firing system



Jan. 18, 1966 y` F. BoswELL ETAL 3,229,632

EJECTOR BREEGH AND FIRING SYSTEM Filed Feb. l0, 1964 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 souls FUSING fla clRculT OF LAUNCHER fI4 ACOUSTIC -^6 MARKER TRANsMnTTf-:R

FIG. 4.

IN VENTORS VANCE F. BOSWELL ROBERT L. SHOEMAKER United States Patent O 3,229,632 EJECTOR BREECH AND HIRING SYSTEM Vance F. Boswell, Rocky River, and Robert L. Shoemaker, Wicldilfe, (Ihio, assignors, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Feb. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 343,905 4 Claims. (Cl. 102-16) The present invention relates generally to ejector and launcher systems and in particular is a firing and explosive ejector system for launching and timely energizing acoustical markers devices from a towed marine carrier vessel.

In the past, it has been diiiicult, expensive, and sometimes unsafe to eiciently and reliably place an acoustical type marker device at a predetermined position in the sea. This is especially true whenever it is desired for reasons of military strategy or tactics that such acoustic markers are to be launched from a vehicle that is being remotely towed in water.

The instant invention overcomes to a considerable extent the disadvantages of such nature occurring in most of the prior art as a result of its unique structural arrangement and the operational procedures effected thereby.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved ejector breech and firing system.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method and means of releasing acoustical marker devices from a vehicle towed in water or a free-running self-propelled vehicle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a system for tiring, launching, and timely energizing explosive -acoustical markers either individually or collectively as a battery as desired with negligible risk of accidental or misring and maximum safety to operating personnel.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved method and means for remotely controlling the ejection and launch of acoustical markers and other predetermined devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a more reliable method and means for electrically energizing a marine acoustical marker after it has been explosively launched into its operational sea water environment.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method and means for effecting electrical energization of explosive apparatus for the purpose of safely tiring same.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved ejector-acoustical marker system.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved method and means for switching on the electrical energizing circuit of an acoustical marker after it has been disposed in sea water or any other intended aqueous operational medium.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a remotely controlled launch-acoustical marker system that is easily and economically manufactured, maintained, and operated.

Other objects Iand many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the subject invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the entire system constituting the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuits of the ship console, ejector and launcher portions of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed disclosure of the mechanical and electrical structure composing the assembled explosive ejector and ejector mount elements disclosed in block form in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a combination block and schematic representation of various interrelated elements of the instant invention which diagrammatically illustrates how it operates to produce the intended results.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the overall system constituting this invention is shown as having a ship console circuit 11, the output of which is connected to an electrical ejector circult 12. A launcher 13 is connected to the output of ejector circuit 12, and it may include one or more manifolds containing one or more barrels, respectively, for the purpose of physically causing objects of predetermined type to be ejected to some environmental position. In this particular case, however, an explosive ejector 14 is mechanically or otherwise coupled to launcher 13 in a manner to be further explained below. Connected to explosive ejector 14 is an ejector mount 15 with the connection therebetween elfected in such manner as to provide combined physical support as Well as appropriate electrical coupling. The combination of explosive ejector 14 and ejector mount 15 will be disclosed in considerably more detail subsequently in connection with dis-cussion of the assembly of FIG. 3. An acoustical marker transmitter 16, containing well known electronic equipment for the purpose of generating an electrical output signal capable of being connected to an equivalent or proportional acoustical signal, is connected to ejector mount 15 in any suitable operational manner, and, likewise, an electro-acoustical transducer 17 is coupled to said acoustical marker transmitter for the purpose of broadcasting acoustical energy throughout a predetermined volume of sea water or other environmental medium in response to electrical output signal therefrom.

FIG. 2 depicts the assembly of ship console 11 and ejector circuit 12 as having a 110 volt alternating power supply coupled to movable arm 22 of a switch 23 having a trio of electrical contacts 24, 25, and 26; labeled off, test, and operate, respectively. Contact 26 is, in turn, electrically coupled to movable arm 27 of another switch 28 having a trio of electrical contacts 29, 30, and 31, labeled off, range trigger, and marker drop, respectively. Contact 25 of switch 23 is coupled through a resistor 32 to a test contact 33 of another switch 34. On olf contact 35 thereof is coupled to a ground 36, and a movable arm 37 thereof is coupled through a 6.3 volt automotive type 1129 lamp 33 and an electrical conductor 39 to injection circuit 12.

Marker drop contact 31 of switch 28 is coupled through a series connected diode 41 and a step relay actuator coil 42 to ground 43. Actuator coil 42, of course, is the actuating element of a conventional step relay type counter and indicator 44. A capacitance 45 is connected in parallel with coil 42.

The aforesaid marker drop contact 31 is also connected through another diode 46 and an inductive actuating coil 47 of a stepping switch 48, all of which are located in ejection circuit 12, to ground 43. Paralleling said coil 47 is a capacitor 49. A 110 volt to 6.3 volt stepdown transformer 51 has a primary winding 52 coupled across said series connected diode 46 and coil 47, and a secondary winding 53 thereof has one terminal coupled through an automotive type 1129 lamp 55 to a movable arm 56 of the aforesaid stepping switch 48.

Contacts 57, 58, 59, and 61 of switch 48 are respectively coupled through pairs of acoustic markers 62 through 66 of a battery of acoustic markers 67 to the other terminal of secondary winding 53. Although said markers are shown as being connected for being fired in pairs, it should be understood that one of each pair thereof may be deleted or more may be added thereto as necessary to perform the desired marker functions during any given operational circumstances without violating the Scope or spirit of this invention, because so doing would be obvious to the skilled artisan having the benefit of the teachings herein presented.

Conductor 39 also coupled lamp 38 of ship console 11 to movable arm 56 of stepping switch 48 located in ejection circuit 12, and when combined with the aforementioned switches 23 and 34 and resistor 32, the elements constitute a test circuit.

As shown in FIG. 3, explosive ejector 14 is illustrated as being combined in an assembly with ejector 15 in such manner as to readily indicate the structural and electrical cooperation therebetween.

Explosive ejector V14-has anencapsulationV housing 71Y n preferably of cylindrical configuration, made of plastic, epoxy, polyester, or melanine resin compound, or other suitable material which may be reinforced if desired to provide the proper strength characteristics. It contains a pair of threaded apertures 72 and 73 respectively located at approximately the center of each end thereof, and screwed into each of said ends are flanged pipe fittings 74 and 75 having external threads adapted for iitting the aforesaid threaded apertures 72 and 73. The anged positions thereof are disposed in the housing 71 so that the threaded portions thereof may extend through apertures 72 and 73 and be physically joined to the breech of the barrel of launcher 13 and to ejector mount 15, respectively. A pair of plastic or other electrically insulating type sleeves 76 and 77 are respectively disposed with watertight fit in the inside hollow of pipe fittings 74 and 75. Said sleeves may have external threads which mate with internal threads disposed in the hollows of said pipe fittings or their respective surfaces may be smooth and in watertight abutment as a result of being press fitted, cemented, or the like, as desired. The inside hollows of sleeves 76 and 77 are threaded. An adjustable screw 78 is disposed in the inside threaded portion of sleeve 76 and a spring 79 contacts the end thereof and is adapted for extending through said sleeve and being in resilient contact with the electrical firing circuit of the launcher.

A squib 81 has electrical conductors 82 and 83 which are connected to screw 78 and pipe fittings 74 in such manner that the electrical circuit thereto is completed, so that it may be fired by electrical current supplied from some remote source such as, for example, ejection circuit 12 and ship console 11.

An electrode 84, made of nickel or other suiable metal or electrically conductive material, is contiguously disposed with squib 81 within housing 71 in such manner that it, too, is waterproofed as a result of the encapsulation thereof. A supporting shaft 85 is connected to electrode 84 as by welding or any other means which allows electrical conduction to occur therebetween. Said shaft has external threads which screw into the internal threads of sleeve 77, thereby making the position of electrode 84 adjustable.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3, encapsulating housing 71 is solid with the aforementioned pipe fittings, sleeves, screw, squib, electrode, etc., potted therein. However, it should be understood that it may be hollow if so desired with the only design consideration being that the plastic is of such characteristics that it will initially be waterproof and subsequently be broken by the explosion of squib 81 in such manner as to allow electrode 84 to be exposed to sea water or its other predetermined ambient environment.

Ejector mount 15 is used to seal the marker device hull opposite the transducer and is connected at the other end to the aforementioned explosive ejector. Specifically, ejector mount 15 contains a metal block 86 which may, for example, be made of anodized aluminum. Another electrode 87, which may preferably take the shape of a U for convenience of assembly and disassembly and be of nickel material, is mounted on the outside surface of block 86 by means of screws 88. Electrode 87 is necessary, of course, because block 86, being anodized, is a poor electrical conductor.

Block 86 is drilled and tapped on one side for receiving pipe fitting 75, and on the opposite side it is drilled and tapped for receiving a glass sealed header 89. Disposed within the hole drilled for receiving pipe fitting 75 is an insulating sleeve 91 which may or may not have external screw threads for securing same therein. The inside of sleeve 91 does contain screw threads which mate with the external screw threads of glass-insulating header 89. An electrical conductor 92 extends through header 89 and Ycontacts. a spring9l3 which is resiliently interposed Y between conductor 92 and shaft 85 for the purpose of providing an electrical current path therebetween. Any suitable mounting means such as a plastic support sheath and connector 91 or bracket, welding, cementing, pressfitting, or the like, may be employed to secure ejector mount 15 to acoustic marker transmitter 16. Another electrical conductor 95 completes the current path from electrode 87 to a power supply associated with the acoustic marker transmitter, along with conductor 92.

The respective surfaces of the elements, such as, for example, pipe fittings 74 and 75, apertures 72 and 73, sleeves 76 and 77, etc., are depicted as having either threaded or smooth mating surfaces; however, the selection in either case is considered to be a matter of design choice, with the real criterion being that said elements will properly hold together in a watertight functional assembly that will operate satisfactorily during any given operational circumstances. Thus, if smooth surfaces for said parts are selected, the respective complementary surfaces may be connected by press fitting, cementing, or any other suitable connecting Imeans which would be adequate from the standpoints of the physical strength and the preferred geometrical configuration that is needed for the environment in which the subject invention is to be used. So doing, of course, would be obvious to one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein presented.

FIG. 4 briefiy illustrates in schematic form the respective mechanical and electrical interaction between some of the aforementioned elements and will be discussed in more detail below during the explanation of the operation of the invention. Suffice it to say at this time that the aforesaid electrodes are connected to a predetermined power supply 96 contained in or associated with the marker and that such power supply may take the form of a battery 97. For voltage stabilization purposes a capacitor 98 is preferably connected across the electrical leads coupled to the electronics portion of the marker transmitter.

Briey, the operation of the subject invention is as follows:

When a human or other operator puts switch 23 in operate position and switch 28 in the marker drop position, power in the form of volt alternating current is supplied to `diode 41 where it is rectified to be direct current before being applied to actuator coil 42 of step counter 44. This current is then supplied to diode 46 of eject-or circuit 12 where it is also rectified before being applied as direct current to timely energize coil 47 of stepping switch 48. Hence, each time the marker drop switch is .appropriately closed, parallel connected actuators 42 and 47 simultaneously effects counts and causes switch 48 to step fro-m one Contact to another. The counter, of course, provides the ship console operator with information regarding the number of markers already dropped and still to be dropped at any given instant, and the stepping of switch 48 completes the respective and successive electrical paths, including transformer 51 and lamp 55, to explosive ejectors mounted successively and individually or collectively as a battery thereof on launcher 13. Launcher 13 is, in this particular case, disposed on the carrier vessel that is remotely towed in sea water behind the ship carrying the aforesaid console circuit 11.

Completing any one of said paths effects firing of the squib 69 (or squibs of markers 62 through 66, as the case may be) which, in turn, explodes and sufficiently breaks plastic encasement 71 to expose electrode 84 to sea water and simultaneously separates the marker assembly from the launcher at the desired position to be marked in the sea, from where it will broadcast acoustical energy throughout its ambient aqueous environment.

This occurs because, once the marker has been launched,

both electrodes are submerged in water sufficiently tol cau-se electrical current to conduct between them. It can, therefore, be readily seen that said electrodes act as a switch which is effectively closed by immersion in water. Closure of said switch completes the series electrical circuit through electrode 84, shaft 85, spring 93, conductor 92, transmitter 16, battery 97, conductor 95, and electrode 87. Accordingly, transmitter 16 thus becomes energized and begins to supply electrical signals in the acoustical frequency range to transducer 17, which actually accomplishes the broadcast thereof as representative sonic or pressure signals throughout the ambient sea water for marker purposes.

Note should be taken of the fact that the actuation coil of the stepping relay switch and the primary winding of the transformer are returned to the system ground via the conductor in the electrical cable which connects the ship console to the ejection circuit. The high side of the second-ary winding of said transformer i-s connected through lamp 55 to the movable arm of the stepping switch. The explosive squib circuit is returned to the opposite side of the secondary winding of the' transformer. As a result of such arrangement, the squibs are effectively isolated from adjacent electrical or electronic equipment, which, of course, constitutes a safety feature of importance.

When switches 23 and 2S are positioned at operate and marker drop respectively, the 110 volt A.C. is applied from the shipboard supply to the actuating coil circuit -of the Istepping switch as well as to the primary winding of the transformer. This steps the stepping switch and supplies the 6.3 volt A C. to the selected pair of marker squibs. The lamp 55 in the squib circuit acts as a low resistance current limiting load, but its low resist-ance of approximately 2.5 ohms doe not appreciably decrease the voltage applied to the squibs at the time of firing. However, after the squib is fired, a short circuit exists between the movable arm of the stepping switch and the transformer secondary winding, but due to the fact that lamp 55 is in the circuit, the current flow through said secondary winding of the transformer is limited to a safe value, thereby preventing its inadvertent destruction or overheating and possible concomitant fire hazard.

A test circuit for determining and possibly indicating when step switch 48 is in a predetermined zero or off position is preferably a part of the subject invention. When switches 23 and 34 -are both in the test condition, lamp 39 will light if, and only if, movable arm 56 is in contact with the off contact, since this is the only time the subject test circuit is a complete circuit. Because the test circuit would not be a complete circuit if movable arm 56 were in contact with any of contacts 57 through 61, none of the squibs would receive a firing current and, consequently, they would not be inadvertently exploded. But when movable arm 56 is in contact with the aforesaid off contact, its physical position will be known to the human operator and, thus, it will be known which squib will be fired first or next. The stepper switch 48 is of the shorting type. All marker circuits, excepting the one selected, are simultaneously short circuited to prevent inadvertent multiple firing. With the switch contacts in the zero position; all marker circuits are short circuited, thus providing excellent handling safety.

Obviously, many modifications and other embodiments of the subject invention will readily come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description of the subject invention in accompaniment with the associated drawing. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto and that said modifications, etc., are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An object ejector means comprising in combination,

a breakable solid member,

a first pipe fitting partially disposed within said breakable solid member at one end thereof and partially extending to a location external thereof,

a rst insulating sleeve mounted within said first pipe fitting,

la metallic screw member disposed in said first insulating sleeve and potted within the aforesaid breakable solid member,

a squib potted within said breakable solid member, said squib having a pair of electrical conductors respectively connected to said metallic screw member and said first pipe fitting,

a first electrode potted within said breakable solid member in contiguous relationship with said squib,

a second pipe fitting partially disposed within said breakable solid member at the end thereof opposite said first pipe fitting and partially extending to a location external thereof,

a second insulating sleeve mounted within said second pipe fitting,

a shaft mounted on said first electrode, said shaft being partially potted within said breakable solid member and partially extending into said second insulating sleeve for connection therewith,

a first spring disposed within said first insulating sleeve with one end thereof in contact with said metallic screw member and the other end thereof adapted for being effectively connected to an electrical power supply, and

a second spring disposed within said second insulating sleeve with one end thereof in contact with the aforesaid shaft and the other end thereof adapted for being effectively electrically connected to the object being ejected by the instant object ejector means.

2. An object ejector means comprising in combination,

a breakable solid member,

a first pipe fitting partially disposed within said breakable solid member at one end thereof and partially extending to a location external thereof,

a first insulating sleeve mounted with said first pipe fitting,

a metallic screw member disposed in said first insulating sleeve and potted within the aforesaid breakable solid member,

a squib potted within said breakable solid member,

said squib having a pair of electrical conductors respectively connected to said metallic screw member and said first pipe fitting,

a first electrode potted within said breakable solid member in contiguous relationship with said squib,

a second pipe fitting partially disposed within said breakable solid member at the end thereof opposite said first pipe fitting and partially extending to a location external thereof,

a second insulating sleeve mounted within said second pipe fitting,

a shaft mounted on said first electrode, said shaft being partially potted within said breakable solid member and partially extending into said second insulating sleeve for connection therewith,

a first spring disposed within said first insulating sleeve with one end thereof in contact with. said metallic screw member and the other end thereof in contact with Said metallic screw member and the other end thereof adapted for being effectively connected to an electrical power supply, and

a second spring disposed within said second insulating sleeve with one end thereof in contact with the aforesaid shaft and the other end thereof adapted for being effectively electrically connected to the object being ejected by the instant object ejector means,

a metallic block,

an aperture extending through said metallic block in a direction coincident with an extension of the longitudinal axis of the aforesaid shaft, with said block being connected to the aforesaid second pipe tting by mean-s of said aperture,

a second electrode mounted on said metallic block in electrical Contact therewith,

a third linsulating lsleeve disposed in a portion of the aperture of said metallic block,

an insulated header plugging the aperture of said block at the end of said block that is connected to the aforesaid second pipe fitting,

an electrical conductor extending through said insulated header,.and

a second spring interposed between said electrical con- 8 ductor and the aforesaid shaft within the aperture'of said metallic block. 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said header plugging the aperture of said block at the end thereof opposite the end of said block that is connected to the aforesaidI second pipe tting in a glass-insulated header.

4. The invention according to claim 3 further characterized by means attached to said metallic block for connecting same to an acoustic marker means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner;

SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Examiner. 

1. AN OBJECT EJECTOR MEANS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A BREAKABLE SOLID MEMBER, A FIRST PIPE FITTING PARTIALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BREAKABLE SOLID MEMBER AT ONE END THEREOF AND PARTIALLY EXTENDING TO A LOCATION EXTERNAL THEREOF, A FIRST INSULATING SLEEVE MOUNTED WITHIN SAID FIRST PIPE FITTING, A METALLIC SCREW MEMBER DISPOSED IN SAID FIRST INSULATING SLEEVE AND POTTED WITHIN THE AFORESAID BREAKABLE SOLID MEMBER, A SQUIB POTTED WITHIN SAID BREAKABLE SOLID MEMBER, SAID SQUIB HAVING A PAIR OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID METALLIC SCREW MEMBER AND SAID FIRST PIPE FITTING, A FIRST ELECTRODE POTTED WITHIN SAID BREAKABLE SOLID MEMBER IN CONTIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SQUIB, A SECOND PIPE FITTING PARTIALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BREAKABLE SOLID MEMBER AT THE END THEREOF OPPOSITE SAID FIRST PIPE FITTING AND PARTIALLY EXTENDING TO A LOCATION EXTERNAL THEREOF, 